AAJA Portland is looking for candidates to its 2013 board, including a president, treasurer and secretary. Interested in helping grow our organization and promote diversity in the newsroom? If so, consider applying!

As part of the board, you would be responsible for the following duties:

1) President: Responsible for setting agenda and programming of chapter, being on quarterly conference calls with other presidents, representing chapter interests.

3) Treasurer: Responsible for keeping financial reports according to standards set by national, including documentation of transactions and an annual accounting for national. Also assists other officers carry out agenda and activities.

Each position is a one-year commitment and starts the term on Jan. 1, 2013.

***Bear in mind that the chapter president and treasurer are both expected to attend the yearly AAJA National Convention, which may incur some extra travel and registration expenses. In the past, the chapter has been able to subsidize the expenses with small stipends, and hopefully will try to do so again, but it’s not guaranteed.

If interested, please email portland.aaja@gmail.com to inform the current board by Oct. 18, and please prepare a candidate’s statement for why members should vote for you by Oct. 25. Elections will take place Nov. 1.

We have a happy hour coming with some special guests: National President Doris Truong, who is a Multiplatform editor at The Washington Post, and past president Sharon Chan, who is a Senior Producer for Home Page and Mobile at the Seattle Times. We had a great turnout last time, so please come out again and show your support!

As usual, there is a $5 suggested donation, with proceeds going toward our events, including an internship scholarship/stipend for an Asian-American student working in the Pacific Northwest. Our organization aims to bring diversity to newsrooms and promote fair and accurate coverage of minority issues. For more information on the national organization, visit http://www.aaja.org/.

We’re offering three $200 stipends this year to assist with the costs of going to UNITY 2012 in Las Vegas. Conventions are also a great investment in your career, so we encourage members to check it out.

Recipients should have a history of involvement with the chapter, as well as commit to helping lead one fundraiser in the coming year.

If you’d like to apply, please fill out the application form below and respond by March 15. The board will consider applications and notify recipients by Friday, March 16, so members can catch the early bird rate. Email applications toportland.aaja@gmail.com.

Name:

Occupation:

Organization/School:

1. What do you hope to achieve by attending this year’s convention, and why do you need a stipend?

2. What do you plan to take away from the convention to benefit, inform or help the chapter and fellow members? We would like members who attend the convention to share highlights of the trip with our chapter.

3. If you receive a stipend, are you willing to lead one fundraiser for the chapter in the next year?

4. Have you been a previous beneficiary of chapter/national financial assistance? How would a stipend fit into your budget for the convention?

FYI: Street parking can get tough in Northwest Portland on Friday nights, but there should be some spots available in that area. The MAX is a few blocks away. Questions? Shoot portlandaaja@gmail.com an e-mail!

The Portland chapter of AAJA wants to help you make your résumés, cover letters, clips, or reels stand out from the rest. Come sign up for one-on-one résumé critiques with editors and broadcast professionals on Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Oregon Daily Emerald newsroom, 1222 E. 13th Ave., #300 in Eugene.

The event is aimed at both journalism students and professionals — print, broadcast, and online journalists are all welcome.

Bring application packets (résumés, cover letters, clips, a DVD or link to your reel) and talk for 15 minutes with a professional who will give you great tips on making the best impression on recruiters.

The AAJA Portland chapter is offering a $1,000 stipend to fund an academic intern working at an Oregon media outlet this fall semester.

The stipend is designed to offset costs of required college credit or housing and transportation needs. Any student must first secure an internship with an Oregon media outlet before applying for this stipend. Students who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs are eligible; recent college graduates may be considered.
The intern must meet AAJA’s goal of increasing diversity in newsrooms. AAJA Portland strongly encourages any student interested in applying for the stipend to become an AAJA member.

Applicants must submit name, resume, internship supervisor at media outlet and an essay (500 words) on the importance of diversity in the media.